Precious Remedies against Satan's Devices

Name: Precious Remedies against Satan's Devices
Author: Thomas Brooks

Precious remedies against Satan's devices or, salve for believers and unbelievers sores. Being a companion for those that are in Christ, or out of Christ; that are high, or low, learned, or illiterate, staggering, or wandering; that slight, or neglect ordinances, under a pretence of living above them; that are growing (in spirituals) or decaying; that are tempted, or deserted, afflicted, or opposed; that have assurance, or that want assurance; that are self-seekers, or the common-wealths caterpillars; that are in love sweetly united, or that yet have their spirits too much embittered, &c. By Thomas Brooks, a willing servant unto God, and the faith of his people, in the glorious gospel of Christ, at Margarets fish-street hill.Precious remedies against Satans devices or, salve for believers and unbelievers sores. Being a companion for those that are in Christ, or out of Christ; that are high, or low, learned, or illiterate, staggering, or wandering; that slight, or neglect ordinances, under a pretence of living above them; that are growing (in spiritualls) or decaying; that are tempted, or deserted, afflicted, or opposed; that have assurance, or that want assurance; that are self-seekers, or the common-wealths caterpillars; that are in love sweetly united, or that yet have their spirits too much imbittered, &c. By Thomas Brookes, a willing servant unto God, and the faith of his people, in the glorious gospel of Christ, at Margarets fish-street hill.

Thomas Brooks 1608–1680London: printed by M. Simmons for John Hancock, 1653

[22], 378, [16] · 86k words · Wing B4954

Title page typeset from the transcription.

PRECIOUS REMEDIES AGAINST SATANS Devices. › Now the general Remedies against this Device of Satan are these th…: Now the general Remedies against this Device of Satan are these that follow.PRECIOUS REMEDIES AGAINST SATANS Devices. › Now the generall Remedies against this Device of Satan are these th…: Now the generall Remedies against this Device of Satan are these that follow.

Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.

[ Earlier:160–175 of 565

:160p. 115–117

The fifth Remedy against this device¹ of Satan, is, to hold fast the truth; as men take no hold on the arm of flesh, till they have let go their hold on² the arm of God: so men take no hold on error, till they have let go their hold of truth; therefore hold fast the truth, truth is thy Crown, hold fast thy Crown, and let no man take thy Crown from thee; hath not God made³ truth sweet to thy soul? yea, sweeter then the honey, or the honey comb, and wilt thou not go on •o Heaven, feeding upon truth, that heavenly honeycomb, as Samson did of his honeycomb. Ah souls! have you not found truth sweetening your spirits, and cheering your spirits, and warming your spirits, and raising your spirits, and corroborating your spirits; have you not found truth a guide to lead you, a staff to uphold you, a cordial to strengthen you, and a plaster to heal you? and will you not hold fast the truth? hath not truth been your best friend in your worst days? hath not truth stood by you, when friends have forsaken you? hath not truth done more for you, then all the world ⟨p. 116⟩could do against you, and will you not hold fast the truth? is not truth your right eye, without which you cannot see for Christ? and your right hand, without which you cannot do for Christ? and your right foot, without which you cannot walk with Christ? and will you not hold fast truth? oh! hold fast the truth in your judgements, and understandings, in your wills and affections, in your profession,⁴ and conversation. Truth is more precious then gold, or Rub•es; and all the things thou canst desire, are not to be compared to her. Truth is that heavenly glass, wherein we may see the lustre, and glory of divine wisdom, power, greatness, love, and mercifulness. In this glass, you may see the face of Christ, the favour of Christ, the riches of Christ, and the heart of Christ, beating and working sweetly towards your souls. Oh! let your souls cleave to truth, as Ruth ⁵

[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

Precious Remedies against Satan's Devices

Now the Remedies against this device of Satan are these that follow.

The second thing to be showed is, the several Devices that Satan hath (as to draw souls to sin, so) to keep souls from holy duties, to hinder souls in holy Services, and to keep them off from Religious performances.

The second thing to be shewed is, the severall Devices that Satan hath (as to draw soules to sin, so) to keep soules from holy duties, to hinder soules in holy Services, and to keep them off from Religious performances.

The first device that Satan ¹hath to draw souls from holy duties, and to keep them off from religious services is,

The first device that Satan ¹hath to draw soules from holy duties, and to keep them off from religious services is,

Now the Remedies against this device of Satan are these that follow.

The author

Transcription key

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

Now the Remedies against this device of Satan are these that follow.

The second thing to be showed is, the several Devices that Satan hath (as to draw souls to sin, so) to keep souls from holy duties, to hinder souls in holy Services, and to keep them off from Religious performances.

The second thing to be shewed is, the severall Devices that Satan hath (as to draw soules to sin, so) to keep soules from holy duties, to hinder soules in holy Services, and to keep them off from Religious performances.

The first device that Satan 1hath to draw souls from holy duties, and to keep them off from religious services is,

The first device that Satan 1hath to draw soules from holy duties, and to keep them off from religious services is,

Now the Remedies against this device of Satan are these that follow.

The author

Transcription key

The first device that Satan ¹hath to draw souls from holy duties, and to keep them off from religious services is,

The first device that Satan ¹hath to draw soules from holy duties, and to keep them off from religious services is,